Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state laws. Penalties are issued in cases where non-compliance continues after Ecology has provided technical assistance or warnings, or for particularly serious violations.
The money owed from penalties may be reduced from the issued amount due to settlement or court rulings. Funds collected go to the state’s general fund or to dedicated pollution prevention accounts.
Ecology strives to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment and promote wise management for current and future generations. When someone pollutes Washington’s land, air or waters, Ecology enforces state and federal regulations in hopes of changing behavior and deterring future violations.
Penalties for April-June 2017
| County | City | Date Issued | Recipients | Description | Amount | Media contact |
| Adams | Othello | 5/3/17 | Jon Warling | Burned tree roots and other material from an orchard without a permit. Penalty paid. |
$2,500 | Brook Beeler, 509-329-3478 |
| Grant | Royal City | 5/16/17 | Mike Robinson | Burned prohibited materials including treated posts, apple boxes, wire handles from five gallon buckets, other unidentifiable materials. Penalty paid. | $2,000 | Brook Beeler, 509-329-3478 |
| Grays Harbor | Ocean Shores | 6/1/17 | JP Fishing LLC | On April 15, 2016, the fishing vessel Privateer grounded near Ocean Shores. On April 16, the Privateer was pushed broadside into the surf and broke apart on April 17. Ecology determined 3,465 gallons of diesel fuel, lubrication, and hydraulic oils spilled from the vessel. | $7,000 | Dave Bennett, 360-407-6239 |
| Jefferson | Port Townsend | 4/20/17 | Port Townsend Paper Corporation | Two incidents in 2016 that led to emissions from the plant bypassing its control systems. News release. Penalty paid. | $30,000 | Andrew Wineke, 360-407-6149 |
| King | Duvall | 6/23/17. | ZYK Enterprises, Inc. | Violated water quality permit requirements to submit quarterly discharge monitoring reports in the third quarter of 2015 and second quarter of 2016. | $2,000 | Larry Altose, 425-649-7009 |
| King | Newcastle | 6/23/17 | Jackson Energy | Fuel delivery truck overfilled a gas station tank at 6420 Lake Washington Blvd. SE on April 3, 2017, spilling 92 gallons of diesel fuel, part of which entered Lake Washington via a storm drain. | $1,000 | Larry Altose, 425-649-7009 |
| Kittitas | Kittitas | 5/2/17 | General Transport, Grandview | Issued a field citation for delivering petroleum fuel to underground storage tank without a tag showing the facility was in compliance with operational and environmental protection regulations. | $1,000 | Joye Redfield-Wilder, 509-575-2610 |
| Pierce | Tacoma | 6/22/17 | Port of Tacoma | Allowed ship repair work on port property without the required permits and best management practices to prevent stormwater contamination, and discharges of pollutants. Penalty appealed. | $2,000 | Dave Bennett, 360-407-6239 |
| Stevens | Chewelah | 5/15/17 | Alpine Developments Group, LLC | Failed to apply and maintain best practices to manage stormwater, resulting in muddy water reaching Nelson Creek, a tributary to Ten Mile Creek. Penalty appealed. |
$2,500 | Brook Beeler, 509-329-3478 |
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